ARTICLE VI. - STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
Part of the Code of Ordinances of Central Falls, RI.
The text
Footnotes:
--- (5) --- State Law reference— Stopping, standing and parking, G.L. 1956, § 31-21-1 et seq.; violation of parking regulations, G.L. 1956, § 12-14-12; authority to regulate standing or parking of vehicles, G.L. 1956, § 31-12-12(a)(1).
DIVISION 1. - GENERALLY#
Sec. 36-364. - Application of article.#
The provisions of this article prohibiting the standing, stopping and/or parking of a vehicle or conveyance shall apply at all times, or at those times specified in this article, or as indicated on official signs, except when it is necessary to stop a vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or official traffic control device.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-1; Code 1994, § 38-250)
Sec. 36-365. - Regulations not exclusive.#
The provisions of this article imposing a time limit on parking shall not relieve any person from the duty to observe other and more restrictive provisions prohibiting or limiting the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles or conveyances in specified places or at specified times.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-2; Code 1994, § 38-251)
Sec. 36-366. - Parking signs required.#
Whenever, by this article or any other ordinance of the city, any parking time limit is imposed, or parking is prohibited on designated roadways or in municipal parking lots, it shall be the duty of the city traffic division to erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof, and no such regulations shall be effective unless such signs are erected and in place at the time of the alleged offense.
Except that no such signs shall be required for the prohibition of parking or leaving of a vehicle of any type unattended on any street, road alley, lane, thoroughfare, park or public grounds in the City of Central Falls during the period of December 1st through April 1st of the next year between the hours of 1:00 am and 6:00 am.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-8; Code 1994, § 38-257; Ord. of 12-19-2011(2))
Sec. 36-367. - Measurements controlling parking and prohibited parking areas.#
Whenever there appears, in this article, a reference to the distance along one street, or from the intersection of another street, then such measurement shall be construed to mean the point of tangency of the curve of such street in question and along such street the appropriate distance stated.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-10; Code 1994, § 38-260)
Sec. 36-368. - Parking privileges for disabled.#
No penalty shall be imposed upon any person with a disability issued a disability parking privilege placard or sticker pursuant to G.L. 1956, §§ 31-28-7, 31-27-7.1 or 31-29-5, nor from the motor vehicle transporting the person with a disability, provided that upon that vehicle there is displayed a disability parking placard or sticker for parking on the highways or in a space for a longer period of time than other persons are permitted to park on the highways or in a space. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorize that person to park in any place at any time where parking is prohibited.
Sec. 36-369. - Standing or parking close to curb.#
(a)
Except as otherwise provided, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a roadway, street or highway in the city where there are adjacent curbs shall be stopped or parked with the right-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel to and within 12 inches of the right-hand curb.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided in this article, every vehicle stopped or parked upon a one-way street, roadway or highway in the city, where there are adjacent curbs and left-hand parking is permitted upon such a roadway, shall be so stopped or parked with the left-hand wheels of such vehicle parallel to and within 12 inches of the left-hand curb.
(Code 1973, § 16-12-1; Code 1994, § 38-231)
State Law reference— Similar provisions (as to subsection (a)), G.L. 1956, § 31-21-7; authority to provide (as provided in subsection (b)), G.L. 1956, § 31-21-8.
Sec. 36-370. - Obedience to angle parking signs and markings.#
On those streets which have been signed or marked by the city traffic division for angle parking, no person shall park or stand a vehicle other than at the angle to the curb or edge of the roadway indicated by such signs or markings.
(Code 1973, § 16-12-3; Code 1994, § 38-233)
Sec. 36-371. - Parking not to obstruct traffic.#
No person shall park a vehicle upon a roadway, street or highway, other than an alley, in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than ten feet of the width of such roadway, street or highway for the free movement of vehicular traffic.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-2; Code 1994, § 38-235)
Sec. 36-372. - Vehicles obstructing the roadway.#
The operator of a truck, semitrailer or tractor-trailer shall not stop, stand or park such vehicle at any time for the purpose of loading or unloading debris, construction materials, merchandise or equipment, so as to obstruct more than one-half of the traveled roadway, street or highway.
(Code 1973, § 16-9-13; Code 1994, § 38-93)
Sec. 36-373. - Stopping, standing or parking prohibited.#
(a)
No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places:
(1)
On a sidewalk;
(2)
In front of a public or private driveway;
(3)
Within an intersection;
(4)
Within eight feet of a fire hydrant;
(5)
On a crosswalk;
(6)
Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;
(7)
Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway;
(8)
Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb, or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless the traffic authority indicates a different length by signs or markings;
(9)
Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing;
(10)
Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station, and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of the entrance (when properly sign-posted);
(11)
Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing, or parking would obstruct traffic;
(12)
On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;
(13)
Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a highway or within a highway tunnel;
(14)
At any place where official signs prohibit stopping;
(15)
At any curb cut or ramp for persons with disabilities;
(16)
On any bicycle lane, trail or path;
(17)
Upon any crosshatched access aisle adjacent to disability parking spaces;
(18)
At an angle with the curbing where legal parking is permitted, unless otherwise indicated by signs and/or markings;
(19)
Parallel with any curbing that is painted yellow;
(20)
In any prohibited parking area of a municipal parking lot, when posted; or
(21)
With the left wheels thereof next to the curb.
(b)
The following vehicles are exempt from the prohibitions contained in subsection (a) of this section:
(1)
School buses or worker transport buses that are loading or unloading children or workers, provided that the school bus or worker transport bus operates its flashing bus safety lights;
(2)
Subject to the provisions of G.L. 1956, § 31-21-6, vehicles that are momentarily stopped, standing, or parked to admit or discharge passengers;
(3)
Vehicles that are momentarily stopped, standing, or parked for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property;
(4)
Vehicles that are owned or operated by the state or a city or town when the vehicle must stop, stand, or park to perform maintenance or repair work on an area where stopping, standing or parking is prohibited under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section;
(5)
Vehicles that are disabled in such a manner and to such extent that the vehicle operator cannot avoid stopping or temporarily leaving the disabled vehicle in an area where stopping, standing or parking is prohibited under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section;
(6)
Vehicles that are momentarily stopped to allow oncoming traffic to pass before making a right or left-hand turn, or in preparation for or while negotiating an exit from the road.
(c)
No person shall move a vehicle not lawfully under his control into any prohibited parking area, or away from a curb such a distance as is unlawful.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-1; Code 1994, § 38-234)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, §§ 31-21-4, 31-21-5.
Sec. 36-374. - Parking for certain purposes prohibited.#
No person shall park a vehicle upon any roadway, street or highway of the city for the principal purpose of: (1)
Displaying such vehicle for sale.
(2)
Displaying of commercial advertising signs on any parked vehicles for the purpose of directing customers to any business establishment.
(3)
Washing, greasing or repairing of vehicles, except repairs necessitated by emergency.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-3; Code 1994, § 38-236)
Sec. 36-375. - Parking adjacent to schools.#
(a)
The city traffic division is hereby authorized to erect signs indicating no parking upon either or both sides of any street adjacent to any school property, when such parking, in their opinion, interferes with traffic or creates a hazardous situation.
(b)
When official signs are erected indicating no parking upon either side of a street adjacent to any school property, as authorized in this section, no person shall park a vehicle or conveyance in any such designated place.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-4; Code 1994, § 38-237)
Sec. 36-376. - Parking prohibited on narrow streets.#
(a)
The city traffic division is hereby authorized to erect signs indicating no parking, either side, on two-way streets when the width of the roadway does not exceed 20 feet, or upon one side of a street, as indicated by such signs, when the width of the roadway does not exceed 30 feet.
(b)
When official signs are erected prohibiting parking on narrow streets, as authorized in this section, no person shall stand or park a vehicle upon any such street in violation of such sign.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-5; Code 1994, § 38-238)
Sec. 36-377. - Standing or parking on one-way streets.#
The city traffic division is hereby authorized to erect signs upon the left-hand side of any one-way street to prohibit the standing or parking of vehicles, and when such signs are in place, no person shall stand or park any vehicle or conveyance upon such left-hand side in violation of such sign.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-6; Code 1994, § 38-239)
Sec. 36-378. - No stopping, standing or parking near hazardous or congested areas.#
When official signs are erected at hazardous or congested places, as authorized in this section, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle or conveyance in any such designated place or area.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-7; Code 1994, § 38-240(b))
Sec. 36-379. - Parking or standing of commercial vehicles.#
(a)
For the purpose of this article, a commercial vehicle shall be defined as any vehicle in excess of 24 feet in length or any vehicle over 6,500 pounds gross vehicle weight.
(b)
No person shall park or stand a commercial vehicle upon any roadway or street of any residential district between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless engaged in the loading or off-loading of goods. At any such time, the vehicle shall not be idling.
(c)
No person shall park or cause to be parked upon any roadway, street or highway of the city a vehicle over 6,500 pounds gross vehicle weight.
(d)
Any person or entity found in violation of any of these sections shall be subject to the penalties enumerated in section 36-2 herein, but in no case shall any person or entity found in violation hereof be fined less than $100.00.
(e)
Any commercial vehicle in violation of this section shall be deemed to be a hazard to the quality of life and a hazard to public safety; as such, the vehicle may be towed and the person or entity violating this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100.00. However, the vehicle may not be towed and only a fine assessed if the owner of the commercial vehicle has registered the vehicle with the police department on a form promulgated by the police department including all relevant names and contact information of owners and drivers and requiring payment of any and all fines within 30 days.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-8; Code 1994, § 38-241; Ord. of 12-23-2021(1), § 1)
Sec. 36-380. - Parking on private property.#
To stop illegal parking on private property, and the inconvenience to homeowners, the following method is hereby established: (1)
The owner or caretaker of the private property shall sign an official complaint with the police department designating the illegally parked vehicle and the registration number and physical description thereof.
(2)
The police department shall tow, or cause to be towed, such vehicle, and such vehicle shall be impounded and stored with the towing company. The cost of such towing and storage of such vehicle shall be paid by the last registered owner of such vehicle.
(Code 1973, § 16-13-9; Code 1994, § 38-242)
Sec. 36-381. - Parking prohibited at all times on certain streets.#
When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle at any time upon any of the streets described in such schedule of streets and made part of this article.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-3; Code 1994, § 38-252)
Sec. 36-382. - Parking prohibited during certain times on certain streets.#
When signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle between the hours or days specified upon any streets described in such schedule of streets and made a part of this article.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-4; Code 1994, § 38-253)
Sec. 36-383. - Stopping, standing, parking prohibited at all times on certain streets.#
When signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle at any time upon the streets described in such schedule of streets and made a part of this article.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-5; Code 1994, § 38-254)
Sec. 36-384. - Stopping, standing, parking prohibited at certain times on certain streets.#
When signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle between the hours specified, upon any of the streets described in such schedule of streets and made a part of this article.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-6; Code 1994, § 38-255)
Sec. 36-385. - Parking time limited on certain streets and municipal parking lots.#
When signs are erected in each block giving notice thereof, no person shall park a vehicle for longer than the hours specified in the municipal parking lots, or upon those streets described in such schedule of streets and made a part of this article.
(Code 1973, § 16-15-7; Code 1994, § 38-256)
Sec. 36-386. - Vehicles stopping in roadway.#
The operator of a vehicle shall not stop such vehicle in the traveled portion of the roadway, street or highway of the city for the purpose of conducting a conversation, dropping off passengers, or picking up passengers, thereby interfering with the normal flow of traffic.
(Code 1973, § 16-9-15; Code 1994, § 38-95; Ord. of 3-14-2005(2))
Sec. 36-387. - Winter parking ban on city streets.#
(1)
No person shall park or leave unattended a vehicle of any type on any street, road, alley, lane, thoroughfare, park or public grounds in the City of Central Falls during the period of December 1st through April 1st of the next year between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(2)
The parking or leaving of any vehicle in violation of this section shall subject the owner of the vehicle any and all sanctions and fines imposed for violations of city parking ordinances including but not limited to; section 36-440 of the Code of Ordinances empowering the chief of police the authority to summarily remove or cause to be removed any vehicle in violation of this ordinance.
(3)
Any vehicle so removed may be redeemed by the owner of said vehicle upon payment of all towing charges, storage charges and other expenses as required by law.
(Ord. of 12-19-2011(3))
Secs. 36-388—36-415. - Reserved.#
DIVISION 2. - LOADING ZONES, TAXICAB STANDS, ETC.#
Sec. 36-416. - Standing in passenger curb loading zone.#
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose or period of time, other than for the expeditious loading or unloading of passengers, in any place marked as a passenger curb loading zone or bus stop, during hours when the regulations are applicable to such curb zone.
(Code 1973, § 16-14-2; Code 1994, § 38-244)
Sec. 36-417. - Standing in freight curb loading zone.#
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, other than a registered commercial vehicle, for any purpose or length of time, other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery, or pickup, and loading of materials, in any place marked as a freight curb loading zone, during hours when the regulations are applicable to such zone.
(Code 1973, § 16-14-3; Code 1994, § 38-245)
Sec. 36-418. - Stopping, standing, parking of buses and taxicabs regulated.#
(a)
The operator of a bus shall not stand or park such vehicle upon any roadway, street or highway at any place other than a bus stop or stand so designated as provided in this division.
(b)
The operator of a bus shall not stop such vehicle upon any roadway at any place for the purpose of loading/unloading passengers and/or baggage other than at a bus stop or passenger loading zone so designated as provided in this division, except in cases of emergency.
(c)
The operator of a bus shall enter a bus stop on a public street in such a manner that the bus, when stopped to load or unload passengers and/or baggage, shall be in a position with the right front wheel of such vehicle not further than 18 inches from the curb, and the bus approximately parallel to the curb so as not to impede the movement of vehicular traffic.
(d)
The operator of a taxicab shall not stand or park such vehicle upon any roadway at any place other than in a stand so designated in this division. This provision shall not prevent the operator of a taxicab from stopping in accordance with other stopping or parking regulations, for the purpose of expeditious loading or unloading passengers.
(Code 1973, § 16-14-6; Code 1994, § 38-248)
Sec. 36-419. - Restricted use of bus and taxicab stands.#
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle other than a bus in a bus stop or stand, or other than a taxicab in a taxicab stand, when such stop or stand has been officially designated and appropriately signed, except that the driver of a passenger vehicle may stop therein for the purpose of and while actually engaged in the loading or unloading of passengers, when such stopping does not interfere with any bus or taxicab waiting to enter or about to enter such zone.
(Code 1973, § 16-14-7; Code 1994, § 38-249)
Secs. 36-420—36-436. - Reserved.#
DIVISION 3. - SNOWSTORM EMERGENCIES#
Sec. 36-437. - Implementation of emergency parking ban.#
Whenever the forecast by the United States Weather Bureau or any other special weather service predicts a snowstorm disturbance of severity for this area*, it shall be the duty of the public safety director and/or the chief of police to declare an emergency parking ban, for the purpose of preservation of the public safety and/or the removal of snow, ice, sleet, and/or slush, on all public streets, roadways or highways of the city.
(Code 1973, § 16-19-1; Code 1994, § 38-291; Ord. of 9-14-2015(1), § 1)
Sec. 36-438. - Parking prohibited during/after certain snowstorms.#
All parking is prohibited on all roadways, streets or highways of the city between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. during the months of November, December, January, February and March during a snowstorm whenever the snow may reach a depth of two or more inches, and whenever such parking occurs less than six hours after such snowstorm of such two-inch depth.
(Code 1973, § 16-19-2; Code 1994, § 38-292; Ord. of 12-14-1987(3), § 1; Ord. of 9-14-2015(1), § 1)
Sec. 36-439. - Parking interfering with the removal of snow, ice and slush prohibited.#
No person shall park a motor vehicle, or other conveyance or other vehicle by whatsoever means propelled, so as to interfere with the orderly removal of snow, ice, slush, etc., from the roadways, streets or highways of the city.
(Code 1973, § 16-19-3; Code 1994, § 38-293; Ord. of 12-14-1987(3), § 1; Ord. of 9-14-2015(1), § 1)
Sec. 36-440. - Removal of vehicles.#
The chief of police is hereby authorized and shall summarily remove, or cause to be removed, from the roadways, streets or highways of the city, as well as public places, any vehicle, by whatsoever means propelled, which is parked or located in violation of the provisions of this division, or any other traffic ordinance of the city, or whenever such vehicle shall interfere with the normal flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
(Code 1973, § 16-19-5; Code 1994, § 38-295; Ord. of 12-14-1987(3), § 1; Ord. of 9-14-2015(1), § 1)
Sec. 36-441. - Penalties.#
In addition to the potential removal of a vehicle pursuant to section 36-440, the penalty for the first violation of this division shall be a fine of $100.00. A second violation of this division shall be a fine of $200.00 and a third violation shall be a fine of $500.00. Each fine shall be appealable to the municipal court.
(Ord. of 9-14-2015(1), § 1)